Knitting machine



KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

III I I 3. HEI'FH M'EPuiams Jan. 19, 1937.

H. MCADAMS INVENTOR.

HBIIH M Adams M ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1937.

Filed June 8, 1954 H. M ADAMS KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shet s tpatented Jan. 119, i937 UH TS KNITTING MACH Harry Moi-Adams, Reading, Pa, assignor to Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, lia., a corporation This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of improved web holding means for manipulating the stitch loops of fabric upon knitting machines for the purpose of changing the character of the knitted fabric. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved instrumentality for transi ferring a stitch loop from one needle or element -to another needle or element.

A further object of the invention is the provision of animproved means for transferring the stitch loops of seamless fabric from dial needles it of a circular type of knitting machine to the cylinder needles thereof, at the time of trans- -ferring from rib knitting to plain knitting; the machine being of the general character set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 558,798.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved transfer instrument cooperatively associated with a dial latch needle in such manner as to effectively transfer stitch loops from the dial needles to the cylinder needles.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved knitting machine having a dial provided with a set of needles and a cooperating set of transfer bits associated respectively therewith in such manner that both the dial needles and transfer bits are cooperatively actuated by cam means disposed at the same side of the dial in order to effect transfer of stitch loops .to cylinder needles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

, Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a circular rib knitting machine of the general character set forth inmy co-pending application above referred to, but having the improved stitch transfer means associated with the dial thereof. 7

Figure 2 is a plan view of a knitting machine dial bed having the needles and transfer bits supported operatively therein; the dial cap cam grooves and parts being shown in dot and dash lines.

Figure 3 is a view of the cam structure of the dial cap; the latter being inverted from its normal position.

-Figures i to 9 inclusive show progressive steps in the stage of transferring a loop from a dial needle to an adjacent associated cylinder needle. Figure 10 is an enlarged view showing a needle and its cooperating transfer bit in association within a guide groove of the dial bed. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a knitting machine, which may include a frame B, a cylinder C; a dial construction D; a set of cylinder needles F; a set of dial needles consisting of a plurality of latch needles, and a set of transfer bits or implements individually associated with the dial latch needles.

The knitting machine is preferably of the rotary cylinder type, although the improved bit or instrumentality for manipulating stitch loops may be used wherever it is desired to manipulate or transfer stitch loops from one needle or implement to another needle or implement. The knitting machine as to operating characteristics is clearly detailed in my co-pending application above referred to, and for the purpose of this invention it is suffice to say that the cylinder A has the usual grooves therein for receiving the cylinder needles F, which are preferably of the latch type. The cylinder grooves may also receive jacks 2E3, and cam means may be provided as set forth in my above mentioned co-pending application for alternately dividing the cylinder needles so that stitch loops may be transferred from the dial needles to the alternate cylinder needles (ordinarily inactive during rib knitting) when it is desired to transfer from rib knitting to plain or other knitting accomplished solely or almost solely upon the cylinder needles. Of course the cylinder has associated therewith the usual web holders and operating means, and feed fingers 2i for feeding yarn to the cylinder and dial needles may be provided in any desired number.

The dial construction D includes the usual dial bed keyed as at 25 to a drive shaft 27! arranged concentric to the cylinder, as described in my co-pending application above mentioned. The dial bed 25. is of course provided with radial grooves within which the dial latch needles 2? are reciprocably slidable. In each groove of the dial bed, adjacent each of the needles 2?, there is also disposed one of the stitch transfer implements or bits 28. In a rib knitting machine these dial needles 27 would of course be sub-divided into long and short butt needles; substantially one-half of them being long butts and the re-- mainder short butts for well known purposes.

The dial needles are not operative upon the knitting yarn during the knitting of plain or other knitting which is accomplished solely or almost wholly upon the cylinder needles. However, during rib knitting of seamless fabric the alternate cylinder needles are elevated into position to take the knitting yarn. The remainder of the cylinder needles are inactive in the grooves of the cylinder, as has been described in detail in my co-pending application above mentioned. It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved instrumentality to properly project and dispose the stitch loops hung on the dial needles in association with the dial needles so that the stitch loops hung upon the dial needles may be transferred to the alternate cylinder needles which are inactive during the knitting of ribbed fabric. Of course the improved stitch loop manipulating element or bit is capable of other uses than that specifically set forth.

The dial construction D also includes the dial cap at having an outer circular groove M on the under surface thereof concentric with the axis of rotation of the dial for receiving the butts of the dial latch needles 2?. A second and inner concentric groove 32 is likewise provided for receiving the butts of the stitch loop manipulating bits or implements 28. Depressible cams 3d and 35 are reciprocably mounted upon the dial cap 39, actuated in a manner which has been specifically described in my copending application above referred to for the purpose of shunting the butts of the dial needles 2? into needle projecting cam grooves 3i and 38 so that the dial needles are projected into yarn receiving relation, or for other purposes. Of course these cams 3d and 35 are operated by suitable means so that they may take the long and short butts of the dial needles as selected and desired.

A depressible cam 39 is similarly provided in cooperation with the transfer bit butt groove 32, depressiblein a manner such as set forth in my co-pending application above mentioned for the purpose of directing the transfer implements or bits radially outward in cooperative relation with the dial needles, as projected by the cam 35 and groove 38 so as to position the stitch loops hung on the dial needles in proper transfer relation with those alternate cylinder needles which are Inactive during rib knitting.

Referring specifically to the construction of the transfer bit 28, the same includes the fiat body which is relatively thin and adapted to slide alongside of a needle 2? in one of the dial bed grooves. Each bit body iii has a butt M thereon which may be long or short, as desired. At its extreme forward end the transfer bit or member is provided with a stitch loop manipulating point or projection d3. which moves into the stitch loop hung on the dial needle so that upon projection of the bit the stitch loop may be moved against the shoulder 5 at the fore end Jf the bit in order to cause proper projection of the stitch loop into associated transfer relation with the proper cylinder needle. This pointed projection A3 is inclined downwardly below the edge M at the bottom of the bit body 50, so that when the transfer instrument or bit 28 is disposed in the dial groove the pointed fore end of the stitch loop projection @3 slides on the bottom of the dial bed groove and the edge M is spaced slightly above the bottom of this dial bed groove, as shown in Figure 10, obviously for the purpose of insuring that the bit projection 53 will always lie in position to properly coopaoeasae erate in entering the stitch loop hung on the dial needle cooperating therewith. Rearwardly of the shoulder 15 each transfer bit is concavoconvexly formed to provide a cylinder needle entry groove or opening 43 facing the complementary dial needle 2? associated therewith.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings a dial needle 2? and one of the implements 28 are disposed in each of the dial bed grooves. The fore ends of these grooves are suitably widened and formed in order to properly accommodate the fore ends of the needles and bits, so that the concavo-convex bulge of the bit may be slid into the groove as well as projected therefrom.

It is believed that the operation to effect transfer will be apparent from the enlarged views of the parts shown in Figures 2 and 4 to 10 inclusive. The direction of rotation of the dial and cylinder is shown in Figures 2 and 3' of the drawings (see arrows).

In order to effect transfer of the stitch loops hung on the dial needles onto the cylinder needles which are inactive during rib knitting the cam 39 is moved into position to engage the butts ll of the transfer implements 28. This cooperatively projects the stitch loop entering and lifting projections :33 at the fore ends of the bits. It should be noted that during normal rib knitting the extreme ends of the bit projections 33 lie rearwardly of the hook ends of the dial needles, so as not to interfere with rib knitting and the stitches hung thereon. However, operative positioning of the cam 3% will move the pointed bit ends 63 forwardly into the stitch loops hung on the respective dial needles. In Figure 4 is shown a bit and dial needle in normal position with respect to each other, and one of the cylinder needles. In Figure 5 is shown the stitch loop transfer bit at the start of its projected movement by the cam 39, showing how the end or point 83 thereof enters the stitch loop 60 which is hung on the dial needle and associated therewith. In Figure 6 is shown the bit 28 fully projected by the cam 39 with the stitch loop be lifted and projected into position so that the cylinder needle F may be elevated into the slot or opening 58 of'the bit. In this position it is noted that-the stitch loop is held by the hook end of the dial needle at one side of the bit so that the cylinder needle may properly slip into the stitch loop, and the stitch loop at the opposite side engages above the convex side of the bulge producing the slot or opening 38 in order that the stitch loop is positively spread to permit entry of the cylinder needle F. The cylinder needle elevating cam is shown at m in Figure 1.

It is not thought necessary to describe the cooperative elevation of the cylinder needles, nor-'- mally inactive during rib knitting, in order to effect transfer of stitch loops from the dial needles to such inactive cylinder needles, since such operation has been specifically described in my co-pending application above referred to and the cooperative elevation of these alternate inactive cylinder needles in order to take the stitch loops off the dial needles may be similarly followered, so far as the present invention is concerned.

In Figure 7 it is shown that the dial needles are projected after the associated bit structure 28 has advanced to the peak end of the cam mechanism associated therewith, for the purpose of moving the latch behind the stitch loop. This is obviously controlled by the cam 35 and the cam groove 38. and thereafter the dial needle as well as the associated bit 28 are retracted. There is a certain amount of springiness at the bit end adjacent the hook of the dial needle, so that they may} be readily retracted and spread with the cylinder needle disposed between them, as is shown in the cycle of operation represented in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. I'he stitch loop 60 having been transferred to the cylinder needles, the bits as well as the needles of the dial construction may be inactively buried in the dial bed until such time as it is desired to project the dial needles for again taking the knitting yarns.

Many varieties of knitting may be accomplished upon the knitting machine, and the cooperative use of the bit and dial needle structure is not necessarily limited to a stocking knitted to produce ribbed work or plain knitting.

It is to be noted that the dial needles and bits are compactly associated in complementary relation in the radial grooves of the dial bed and in such manner that the cam means for cooperatively actuating both the bits and the dial needles is located upon a single dial cap, so that the dial structure conforms to conventional dial construction except for the cooperative arrangement of cam grooves in the same dial cap.

The improved implement may be made of steel or any other material found desirable. All of the parts thereof are preferably integral so that the bit is of one-piece construction.-

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a transfer bit for knitting machines comprising an elongated narrow body having a cam actuated butt thereon and provided at its fore end-with a stitch loop entering projection extended at its free end downwardly below the adjacent lower edge of said body, said bit at the juncture of the body with the projection having a stitch loop anchoring shoulder.

2. As an article of manufacture a transfenbit for knitting machines comprising an elongated narrow body having a cam actuated butt theron and provided at its fore end with a relatively long straight stitch loop entering projection aligned with the body and extended downwardly below' the adjacent lower edge of said body, at its free end, said bit at the juncture of the body with the projection having a stitch loop anchoring shoulder, said bit body rearwardly between said shoulder and the butt having a laterally disposed ofiset defining a cylinder needle'entering eye.

3. In a knitting machine dial construction for transferring stitches from dial needles to cylinder needles, the combination of a dial bed having slots therein, a set of needles for said slots, a cam for projecting the needles into stitch loop shedding relation, a set of stitch transfer members disposed individually in cooperating relation in the slots with said needles, and cam means for projecting said bits into stitch holding and cylinder needle transfer position in advance of the projection of said needles into their latch shedding positions by the cam means first mentioned and while the hooks of the needles still hold the stitches to be transferred.

4. In a dial construction for a knitting machine adapted to transfer stitches from dial needles to cylinder needles the combination of a dial bed having slots therein, a set of needles for said slots, a cam for projecting the needles into latch shedding position, a set of stitch transfer members disposed individually in Eooperating relation in the slots with said needles, and cam means for projecting said bits into stitch transfer position, each of said transfer members comprising an elongated narrow body having a cam actuated butt thereon and provided at its fore end with a lateral offset providing a cylinder needle entering opening facing the respective dial needle associated in the slot therewith, said transfer member beyond the said ofiset having a stitch loop entering projection extended downwardly at its free end below the adjacent lower edge of said body whereby said projection at its end will ride on the bottom of the slot in which the transfer member is positioned with the said adjacent lower edge of the transfer bit spaced from. the bottom of said slot for a distance rearwardly of said point end of said projection.

5. In a dial construction for a knitting machine the combination of a dial bed having slots therein, a set of latch needles, one for each slot, 2. set of transfer bits, one for each slot in adjacently associated relation with the respective needle therein, cam means for projecting the transfer bits while the latch needles are retracted so that the transfer bits pick up the loops hung on the respective needles and extend them taut beyond the dial bed into a transfer relation with receiving cylinder needles, and cam means to then project the latch needles into latch shedding position, both of said cam means retracting the bits and needles atsubstantially the same time.

- HARRY McADAMS. 

